During our latest cruise on Carnival Vista, I was excited to visit a new-to-me destination: Aruba! Just off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is a Dutch island with rocky, desert-like landscapes along the northern side, and sandy beaches and coconut palms along the southern coast. With such a variety of picturesque landscapes, we booked the…
During our latest cruise on Carnival Vista, we had so many fun excursion options visiting four ports of call — Grand Turk, La Romana, Bonaire, and Aruba — it was tough to pick what to do in each destination! Since we’d be getting plenty of beach time in several ports, we decided to focus on…
There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to dining experiences on Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Vista. All of my favorite restaurants that I experienced on Carnival Sunshine are there and are even more well integrated into the new ship’s design — like a sort of deliciously enticing restaurant row. There’s sushi at Bonsai…
Browsing through the dining options on my last cruise, there was something new I didn’t expect to see — Carnival’s Chef’s Table. I’ve had this sort of meal in restaurants and resorts, but I hadn’t experienced this type of interactive dinner on a ship. Turns out, it’s not just dinner, but a multi-sensory experience. We…
Since I travel so frequently, a true vacation for me is one where I can digitally disconnect and find some peace and quiet. I typically look for yoga retreats, resorts with great spas, or some place that offers a little outdoor escape. To my pleasant surprise, Carnival Cruise Line now offers the kind of soul-rejuvenating experience…
On my recent Carnival cruise, one of our destinations was San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was my first time ever visiting Puerto Rico and I was pretty excited to spend a whole day exploring this historic city. While there were several fun excursions offered, my friend, Suzie, and I were most interested in trying out…
Do you remember your first cruise or vacation? I certainly remember mine, as it was one of my very first trips outside of the country — and it was on a Carnival cruise that went to the Caribbean and Mexico. I recently stumbled upon an old college album filled with travel photos. The year was 1998,…
It’s been at least ten years since my last Carnival cruise, and my-oh-my things have changed. Last month, my friend, Suzie, and I went on a girl’s getaway to relax and unwind before the busy start to the new year. We’re both the obsessively organized type (she’s actually a professional one) and we set out…
You’ve made your New Year’s resolution, you’ve gotten your bathing suit ready for your cruise. It’s time to relax, enjoy, and par-tay! But with the endless days of lounging by the pool and unlimited 24 hour buffets, they say the average cruiser puts on 10 pounds in a week. Yowza! That’s not cool. When I…
Having just completed and passed the first level Court Of Master Sommeliers course, I’ve unintentionally turned into a wine snob. Don’t get me wrong, I can still pick out a good bottle for ten bucks, but most bottom shelf wine just won’t do it for me anymore (unless I’m mixing it into a sangria recipe)….
I just got back from a Carnival cruise and have a whole list of notes of things I want to remember to bring next time, as well as a few things I brought along that I now know I can’t live without. If you’re headed out on a cruise soon, here’s are some helpful tips for…
Today’s guest post comes from luxury expert and lifestyle blogger, Kara Franker! She recently jetted over to the Dominican Republic for a weekend getaway. Here’s her story … Weekend Getaway To The Dominican Republic – Casa de Campo Located on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, in a charming coastal town called La Romana,…
Planning a romantic summer getaway or honeymoon and looking for the perfect place? I was recently asked what destinations I thought were the most romantic, and these are the top five that really made an impression on me. 1 – Hermanus, South Africa Why it’s romantic — Along the coast there is a cliffside pathway…
Chichen Itza has been on my must-see list for over 10 years now, so I was really excited to have the opportunity to visit this famous Mayan pyramid during my recent trip to Mexico. I think the reason it’s taken me so long to plan a trip there, despite multiple visits to the region, is…
Cancun certainly has a reputation for fun. With mesmerizing blue water, soft sandy beaches, and notorious parties makes it pretty popular among the spring break crowd. In fact, it was actually one of my first international trips when I was a college student. But there really is so much more this area has to offer…
Have you ever wanted to island hop around the Caribbean? Feel the sand in your toes instead of snow on your nose? Then hop along the Caribbean and Mexico with me this November. I’ve been issued a Passport To Paradise, along with fellow blogger and traveler extraordinaire Matt of LandLopers.com. We’ll travel to eight…
Living in Florida I’ve been to the Caribbean dozens of times and experienced first hand the pristine white sand, clear blue turquoise waters, and picturesque views that are typically only seen on inspirational wall calendars. And as relaxing as it might be, I can only sit by the pool and stare at the beach for…
The word mole originates from the Aztec word molli, meaning something smashed or pureed into a sauce. In the case of mole poblano, roasted chilies and vegetables, burned tortillas, intriguing spices, and chocolate are blended into a sophisticated topping for a multitude of dishes. The flavor profile is a complex tapestry of smoky chilies, garlic,…
Recently I was asked, “What is the best vacation you’ve ever had?” It’s a tough question to answer, since each trip is different and has its own unique experiences, self discoveries, and fun foods to try. Often, my sense of adventure and love of anticipation for a new journey has me replying, “any place I’ve…
The main staple for all Caribbean cooking is chicken and rice, or, arroz con pollo. Every country and region has it’s own version and the subtle changes and nuances in preparation really do make each one taste a little different. In fact, I think there’s a cookbook idea in there! Caribbean style chicken and rice…
Driving through the country of Costa Rica, you can’t help but notice bananas, coconut, coffee, and cocoa growing everywhere. These ingredients are pretty much what I gravitate toward on any dessert menu, so I felt as though I was in some sort of temptation-rich green organic version of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. During our…
After traveling the entire month of June, I’m happy to be in the comfort of my own home now and reminiscing while looking through all my photos. I’m amazed that some of my favorites actually come from my iPhone! Here are some of the highlights from Costa Rica… Hanging out by the pool with a…
Did you know that Nature Air is the first CARBON NEUTRAL airline in the world? They compensate for 100% of their carbon emissions through supporting the conservation of tropical forests. While on a recent trip to Costa Rica, Pete and I flew from San Jose to Quepos. It was a fairly quick flight, only 25…
Ever wonder where chocolate comes from? Here’s a peek! Along the border of Costa Rica and Panama is the River Yorkin, where an hour-long canoe ride will take you to a Bri Bri community that grows cocoa. We try our hand at making chocolate the old fashioned way … and it’s delicious!
On a recent jaunt to Curacao, I scurried off the plane, quickly checked into Kura Hulanda Resort and immediately jetted over to Equus for dinner. The reason for my hurry? I was visiting the island just for the weekend and Equus is only open on Friday nights. So I had a narrow window of opportunity…
One of my favorite things to do in foreign countries is visit the local grocery store for a little cultural immersion and to purchase some unique souvenirs. Sometimes my favorite treats aren’t always items you can take back home with you on a plane, such as fruit. While traveling to Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize,…
Yes. You read that correctly. That does say cricket. The evening started innocently enough with a tequila tasting. Eh hem. And since I wasn’t challenged to eat a worm in tequila, I thought I should rise to the occasion when presented with a cricket. I think the pictures below will speak for themselves.
Imagine how giggly and happy I became when I was able to have pink for breakfast. Seriously! A whole plate of Pink Fruit. And not a pale, pepto or Barbie pink. A bright and bold adventurous magenta!